Fluid motor valve



Jan. 12, 1954 A. s. PARKS 2,665,711

`FLUID MOTOR VALVE Filed Nov. 30, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Asbury J. Par/mJNVENToR.

Jan. l2, 1954 A. s. PARKS 2,665,711

FLUID MOTOR VALVE Filed Nov. 50, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Asbury J. ParksINVENTOR.,

. JM/Jl.

OJAL/ Afro/Mfrs Jan. 12, 1954 A. s. PARKS 2,665,711

FLUID MOTOR VALVE Filed NOV. 50 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /lJbu/y J. Parks lINVENTOR.

Qai/ /53 n am Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE`2,665,711 FLUID MOTOR VALVE Asbury S. Parks, Houston, Tex. ApplicationNovember 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,224

12 Claims. 1v

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in iuid motorvalves.

This application is filed as a continuation-inpart of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 46,598, led August 28, 1948, and as animprovement on my co-pending application, Serial No. 788,997, filedDecember 1, 1947.

The invention relates particularly to motor valve devices which areutilized to control the iiow of a pressure fluid through a iiowconductor and wherein the valve seat of the device is subjected toabrasion by the ilowing pressure iiuid.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved valvedevice wherein the valve seat is so mounted within the valve housingthat said seat may be quickly and easily removed and replaced withoutthe necessity of disassembling the entire valve, the valve seat and itsassociated retaining elements which hold said seat in place beinginsertable and removable through a single relatively large accessopening formed in the valve housing.

Another object is to provide a valve device wherein the valve seat isnot threaded within the support but is merely disposed therein and heldin position by a readily removable retaining assembly whereby freezingof the valve seat in position Within the valve, which may result inrequiring discarding of the entire valve housing, is obviated.

Still another object is to provide a valve, of the character described,which is so constructed that the valve seat, its retaining assembly andthe valve stern may be efliciently sealed against pressures whereby thevalve is `adaptable for use in controlling the ilow of high pressurefluids.

A further object is to provide a valve device which lends itself tocombination with any type of motor or diaphragm arrangement; the valveseat assembly being such that it is readily adaptable to a simple oneway valve controlling iloW through a single passage or tomultiple-passage valves which control flow through a plurality ofpassages.

Still another object is to provide a motor valve having adiaphragm-actuated valve element with the diaphragm assembly beingconstructed to operate the valve element with a snap action.

A further object is to provide a valve device, of the characterdescribed, having a pressureresponsive member controlling the operationof the valve; said pressure-responsive member having only a portion ofits cross-sectional area exposed to the operating pressure until saidoperating pressure reaches a predetermined point,

after which substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the memberis exposed to the pressure to produce a sudden or snap action operationof the valve.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specication and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a motor Valve deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View of a modied form of theinvention,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of still another formof the invention and illustrating the main valve element asspring-opening, and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View illustrating reversal of the springin the form shown in Figure 3 to make the valve spring-closing.

In the drawings (Figure 1) the numeral I0 designates a valve body havingan axial passage I I extending therethrough. The ends of the passage areinternally screw-threaded whereby the valve body may be connected in aflow line or conductor I2. A partition I3'is disposed centrally withinthe axial passage Il and is supported therein by integral web elementsI4, and this partition has an opening I5 formed therein. The valve bodyis provided with a relatively large access opening I6 which is in axialalignment with the opening I5 in the partition I3 and the access openinghas an externally threaded collar Il surrounding its upper end.

A valve seat member I8 having an external outwardly directed iiange I9is engageable within the opening I5, the iiange limiting downwardmovement of the member within said opening. The valve seat member has asliding engagement with the opening I5, and the joint therebetween ispacked off by a suitable sealing ring, such as an O-ring 20, which ismounted in the exterior of the member I8 and which engages the wall ofthe opening. The member I8 has an axial flow port 2| extending entirelytherethrough and an annular valve seat 22 is provided at the upper endof this port. 'Ihe particular mounting of the valve seat membereliminates the use of a threaded connection between said member and thepartition whereby insertion and removal of 'the seat member isfacilitated. For retaining the seat member in position a retainingcollar 23 has its lower end engageable with the upper surface of saidmember. This collar is provided with an annular flange 24 at its upperend,r which fiange has an external diameter substantially equal to thediameter of the Vaccess opening I6. Radial ow ports 25 are formed in thewall of the retaining collar 23 so that a free flow between the interiorand the exterior thereof may occur. A plate 2S rests upon the upper endof the ilange 2li of the retaining collar 23, and said plate is ofsubstantially the `same diameter as the access opening i6. A sleeve orannular body 27 also having a diameter substantially equal to the accessopening il has its lower end engaging the plate member and the lowerexternal portion of the sleeve is grocved to receive a sealing ring 28.

which may be an O-ring whereby an effective' seal between the sleeve andthe valve body is had. An annular abutment 2,3 is provided on theexterior of the sleeve ynearer its lower portion and, as shown, thisabutment is formed by an annular ring which is mounted within anexternal groove in the sleeve. A flanged cap member 3i) engages Y theabutment 2S and has lits lower portion formed with internal threadswhich are engageable with the thread-ed collar ii formed on the upperend vof the valve body. t will be evident that when the cap member E@ istightened down its engagement with the abutment 2e of the sleeve willurge the sleeve downwardly into contact with the plate 26 and the platewill in turn be urged into contact with the retaining collar 23, wherebysaid retaining collar is held in tight engagement with the valve seatmember to hold the latter in position.

When the cap member 30 is disconnected irom the collar il, the sleeve 27may be merely lifted from within the access opening, after which theplate 25, collar 23 and valve seat member i8 may also be readily removedfrom the valve body. Since there are no screw threads on any of theparts within the body, the danger of any of these parts Vfreezing withinthe valve body is substantially eliminated. rthus, the valve seat memberit may be readily removed and replaced when conditions require.

For controlling the flow through the passage I I of the valve body andpast the valve seat 22, a main valve element A is adapted. to engagesaid seat. The valve element is mcuntedon the lower endof an elongatevalve stem 3l which extends axially upwardly through an axial opening inthe plate 26 and through the sleeve or body 2l. Intermediate its endsthe body or sleeve 2l is formed with a transverse partition 32 havingy acentral opening through which the stem 3| projects. Below the partitiona lip type or other packing element 33 surrounds the valve stem andfunctions to seal oli therearound. Above the partition the sleeve orbody provides a lubricant chamber 34 within which a suitable lubricantmay be introduced. A relatively thin sleeve 35. is coniined loosely onthe stem 3l within the lubricant chamber 3d, and as the valve stemreciprocates during operation ofthe valve, the sliding movement of thestem through the sleeve 35 functions to maintain a nlm of lubricant onthe stem and to carry lubricant to an O-ring packing above the sleeve.

An operating diaphragm assembly generally indicated at B is mountedabove the sleeve or body 2 and includes a diaphragm case having adepending connecting collar 31 arranged to be threaded onto the upperend of the sleeve or body 2'?. The diaphragm case is formed with anaxial bore 33 which communicates with the lubricant chamber and abovethis bore the diaphragm case is formed with an enlarged chamber 39. TheO-ring packing dil packs off around the stem at the upper end of thebore 3S. The upper end of the valve stem 3l projects upwardly throughthe chamber 39 and has connection with an operating diaphragm di. Theperipheral portion of the operating diaphragm is clamped between thelower section 35d of the case 35' and an upper cover` section 33h ofsaid case. Obviously, movement of the diaphragm will impart similarmovement to the valve elementV A so that said diaphragm controlsoperation of said valve element.

A headed bolt d2 has its lower end threaded onto theupper end of theoperating stem and the head of this bolt functions to retain a followert3 in engagement with the upper end of the operating diaphragm di. Thefollower i3 has an annular rim or flange M which is incontact with theupper `surface of the diaphragm. A predetermined downward iorce isexerted upon the operating diaphragm through th-e follower 43 by a coilspring l5 which engages an external shoulder llt on the follower; theupper end of the spring is in engagement with a plate il and anadjusting screw i8 contacts the central portion of the plate. Byadjusting the screw le the tension of the spring may be varied to exerta predetermined downward pressure on the operating diaphragm.

For conducting pilot ope-rating pressure to the under side of thediaphragm to move the same upwardly against tension of the spring 45, aninlet port t9 is drilled through the lower section Sd of the diaphragmcase 36, and this port` is disposed in a position beyond the point ofcontact between the annular rim 44 of the follower with the operatingdiaphragm. An inlet conductor 5@ is conducted to the port i9v andconducts pilot operating pressure to the portand against the under sideof the operating diaphragm.

in the operation of the diaphragm assembly the spring is adjusted toexert a predetermined pressure downwardly upon the diaphragm. Becausethe spring is acting upon the follower 43 the pressure is transmittedthrough the follower and is exerted'upon the diaphragm by the annularrim or flange id so that maximum downward pressure upon the diaphragm isalong this annular path. Asvpilot operating pressure is directed totheport 49, this pressure acts upon that section of the under side-of thediaphragm which is between the `annular rim or ange 44 and the outermargin of the diaphragm. This is true because the annular rim isexerting a pressure upon the upper surface of the diaphragm which willprevent the pressure from port lipassing to the central portionof theunder side of the diaphragm. As the pilot operating` pressure isincreased, the outer marginal portion of the diaphragm will be firstdeected upwardly as shown by the dotted' lines C in Figure l, afterwhich continued application of pressure will overcome the force of thespring l5 which is holdingY the annular yrim d.. in contact with thediaphragm. As soon as this Voccurs' the under Side of the diaphragm willbe lift-ed ofi of the upper surface 5! of the lower section of thediaphragm case, which surface functions as a seating surface, and thiswill allow pressure to act upon the full cross-sectional area of thecperating diaphragm. lt will be evident that the sudden increase ofcross-sectional area of the diaphragm being exposed to the pilotoperating pressure will cause the diaphragm to snap upwardly so that asnap action of the valve element A will occur. When the pilot pressuredecreases to a predetermined point in accordance with the force of thespring 45, said diaphragm is returned to the position shown in fulllines in Figure 1, at which time the valve element is seated.

In order to allow a limited movement of the central portion of thediaphragm and the valve A' with respect to the follower 43, a relativelylight coil spring 53 is conned between the diaphragm and the follower.The provision of this spring assures that the follower rim 44 willeinciently seat upon the upper surface of the diaphragm at the time thatvalve A engages its seat. The spring 53 provides a compensating meanswhich eliminates the necessity of holding very close tolerances duringmanufacture.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a valve device is providedhavingan improved manner of mounting the valve seat. The sleeve or body2'I which retains the valve seat in position is connected in position bythe single retaining member 30. Merely by disengaging this retainingmember it is possible to remove the entire assembly from the valve bodyI0. The retaining body or sleeve also functions as the support for thediaphragm case which simplifies the construction and eliminates separatesupporting means for the diaphragm assembly B. The particular diaphragmassembly B shown in Figure l provides an arrangement which will permitopening of the main valve element with a snap action and this type ofaction is particularly advantageous in liquid dump valves.

In Figure 2 a modied form of the invention is shown illustrating thevalve seat assembly applied to another type of valve body. In thisinstance, the valve body Illa has an angular passage I Ia connected witha flow conductor |2a. A valve seat |811 is mounted within an opening I5@and is held in place by a ilanged retaining collar 23a, plate 26a andsleeve or body 21a. A cap member a is adapted to thread on the upper endof the body and engages an abutment 29a formed on the sleeve or body21a. In place of the lip type packing 33 a chevron type packing 33a isshown surrounding the stem within the lower portion of the sleeve orbody 21a and a spring 33h maintains the packing in sealing position.

In this form of the invention the sleeve or body 21a has a differenttype of operating diaphragm unit C mounted thereon. This unit includesan operating diaphragm IIIa which has its upper end secured to a yoke 52having the yoke arms 52a. An adjusting screw 53 extends downwardlythrough the bonnet 54 of the unit C being suitably packed oil by anO-ring 54a, and has a supporting member 55 threaded onto its lower end;the member 55 is formed with radial lugs 55a which abut the yoke arms52a to prevent rotation of the member 55 when the screw 53 is adjusted.A coil spring 56 is conned between the upper closed end of the sleeve 52and the supporting member 55 and exerts its pressure to urge thediaphragm upwardly. Pilot fluid operating pressure is conducted to theupper side of the diaphragm through a suitable conductor 56. It isobvious that the adjustment of the spring will control the `amount ofpressure required to actuate the valve element A which is secured to thelower end of the valve stem 3Ia. This type of motor valve is a directpilot pressure opposing trated as applied to a three-way valve. In thisinstance, a valve body III) is provided with passages I I Ia and |||b.An annular valve seat member ||8 is mounted within the body and isretained on its seat by a retaining collar |23 having radial openings|25. A second valve seat member I|8a rests upon the collar |23 and abovethis seat is a second retaining collar |23a. Suitable O-rings |20 sealoff between the valve seats and the valve body. An annular block |21 isinsertable within the access opening IIB in the valve body and engagesthe upper retaining collar to hold the assembly in place. A sleeve |21aextends upwardly from the block I 21 and has the diaphragm case Dsecured to its upper end. A retaining collar or gland |30 threads intothe access opening ||5 and engages an external shoulder |29a on theblock |21. It is thus evident that when the member or gland |30 isdisconnected from the valve body I0 the complete valve assembly may bereadily removed through the access opening.

A valve element A is movable between the valve seats ||8 and IIBa and issecured to a valve stem |3I. This stem extends upwardly through theblock 21, through the sleeve |21a and has its upper end connected to theoperating diaphragm MI of the unit D. A suitable packing I 33 packs offaround the stem.

As shown in Figure 4, the stem I3| is formed with an annular recess G0and a similar recess 6| spaced from the rst recess, these recesses beinglocated within the sleeve |21a.` A flanged collar S2 may be connected toeither of the recesses 6|) or 5| and as shown in Figure 3 the collar isconnected with the recess 50. A coil spring 63 is conned between thecollar 62 and the upper end of the block |21 and exerts its pressure tourge the valve stem in an upward direction.

If it is desired to reverse the direction of force of the spring, it isonly necessary to reverse the collar 62 and connect it to the lowerrecess 6|. The coil spring 53 is then conned between the collar 62 andthe under side of the diaphragm case of the unit D whereby the springfunctions to urge the valve stem in a downward direction.

In all forms of the invention the valve seat is retained in placewithout the provision of any threads within the interior of the valvebody which are exposed to the fluids iiowing through said body. A singleelement such as the cap members ofthe form shown in Figures l and 2 orthe gland of Figure 3 functions to retain the entire assembly inposition. By removal of this single element the assembly may be readilyremoved so that the valve seat thereof may be replaced. 'I'he memberwhich retains the valve seat in place, which is the body or sleeve 21 inFigure l, the body 21a in Figure 2, and the block |21 and sleeve |21a inFigure 3, also functions to support the operating diaphragm assembly. Asis clearly shown from the disclosure herein, any type of operatingdiaphragm unit may be employed for controlling operation of the valveelement.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made, within E the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, II claim:Y

1. A motor valve device including. a valve Y housing having a valve seatsupport provided with an opening therein, said housing also having anaccess opening in alignment with. the opening in the valve seat support,an annular Valve seat member insertable through the access openingandhaving a sliding fit mounting within the opening in the valve Vseatsupport, a retaining assembly also insertable through the access openingand having its inner end engageable with' the valve seat member tomaintain said member in position within the opening in the valve seatsupport', said assembly including a tubular body extending. outwardlyfrom thel access opening, means engageable with the body and attached tothe valve housing for securing the retaining assembly within thehousing, a valve element movable with respect to the valve seat, a valvestem on the valve element extending axiallyV through the retainingassembly with its outer end projecting beyond the body, a casing secureddirectly to the outer end of the tubular body of the retaining assembly,and-a pressure' responsive element within said casing andl havingtheprojecting endof the valve stein secured thereto. y

2. A motor valve device as set forth 1n claim 1,

wherein the tubular body of the retaining assembly has an externaldiameter substantially equal to the diameter of the access opening, anda seal ring between said body and the wall defining said access opening.

3'. A motor valve device as set forth in claim 1, together with asealing means between the valve seat member and the opening in the valveseat support, a second sealing means between the retaining. assembly andthe access opening in the Valve housing, and a third sealing meansbetween the valve stem andthe retaining assembly.

4. A motor valve device as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the means for securing the retaining.

assembly within the housing comprises a securing collar which surroundsthe body o1 the retaining assembly and engages an abutment thereon, saidcollar having threaded engagement with the valve housing.

5. A motor valve device as set forth in claim 1,

l" wherein the retaining assembly includes a re-r taining collar adaptedto engage the valve seat andra retainingy plate engageable with thecollar,l the tubular body of the assembly contacting the plate tocomplete the assembly.

6. A motor valve device as'setforth in claim 1,

together with a lubricant reservoir in the body' of the retainingassembly through which thel valve stem extends, and a tubular sleeveslidably mounted within limits on the valve stem withinsaid reservoir.

'7. A motor valve device including, a valve seat support, a valve seatvmember having ar sliding fit mounting within the openingof'v thesupport, a retaining assembly extendingthrough the access opening andengaging'the valveseat to maintain it in position within the valvelseat' support, avalve element movable relative to the seat and havingiavalve stem projecting axially through the retaining assembly, apressure-responsive'diaphragm case secured' directlyV to the outer endoi the retaining assembly, a diaphragm within the support having thevalve stem Secured thereto, andl means for actuating the diaphragm witha snapV action toactuate the valve With a similar` action. l

8. A motor valve device including, a valve housing having a valve seatsupport provided with an opening therein, said housing also having anaccess opening in alignment with the valve seat support, a valveseat'member having a Vsliding nt mounting within the opening of thesupport, a retainingassembly extending through the access opening andengaging the valve seat to maintain it in position Within the valve seatsupport, a valve element movable relative to the seatV and having'a`valve stem projecting axially through the retaining assembly; apressure-responsive diaphragm casesecureddirectly to the outer end ofthe retaining assembly, a diaphragm within the support having thevalvestern secured thereto, an annular follower engaging one side of' thediaphragm, spring means acting on said diaphragm to urgethe followerinto engagement with the diaphragm, and means for' directing anoperating pressure iiuid against that side of the diaphragm opposite`the follower and at a point outside of the annular line of engagement ofthe follower with said diaphragm.

9. A motor valve device including, a. valve housing having a valve seatsupport provided with an opening therein, said housing also having anaccess opening in alignment with the valve seat support, a valve seatmember having a sliding :dt mountingv within the opening of the support,a retaining assembly through the access opening and engaging the valveseat to maintain it in position within the valve seat support, a Valveelement movable relative to the seat and having a valve stem projectingaxially through the retaining assembly,a pressure-responsive diaphragmcase secured directly to the outer end of the retaining assembly, adiaphragmwithin. the support having the valve stem-secured thereto, anannular` seating surface withinthey dia-` phragm, an annular followerofr lesserdiam'eterthan the diaphragm andv engaging the oppositeV end ofthe diaphragm, spring means acting upon the follower Vto maintain thefollower in engagement with the diaphragm and to urge the dia; phragmagainst-the annular seat, and means for directing the pressure fluidagainst that side of` the diaphragm opposite the side engaged by thefollower and at a point outside the annular line ofy engagement betweenthe follower and the diaphragrn.V

1G. A motor valve device including, av valve housing having a Valve seatsupportprovided with an opening therein, said housingalso" having an"accessA opening in alignment with'the valve seat support; a valve seatmemberhaving a'sliding' nt mounting within ther opening oy the'support,a retaining assembly extending-throughy the access opening` andengagingthe valve seat to maintain it in position within the valve seatsupport, aA

valve element movable relative to the seat and having al valve sternprojecting axially through the retaining assembly, a pressure-responsivediaphragm case secured directly to the outer end of the retainingassembly, a diaphragm within the' support having the valve stem securedthereto,

spring means acting on'the` diaphragm and valve stern forurging'thevalve" element toward open position,.said valve housing having anangular" passageiwith the valve seatl support therein, andi chevron-typepacking sealing` offY` around the valveY stem within the retainingassembly;

11. A motor valve device including, a Valve housing having a valve seatsupport provided with an opening therein, said housing also having anaccess opening in alignment with the valve seat support, a Valve seatmember having a sliding t mounting within the opening of the support, aretaining assembly extending through the access opening and engaging thevalve seat to maintain it in position within the Valve seat support, avalve element movable relative to the seat and having a valve stemprojecting axially 'through the retaining assembly, apressure-responsive diaphragm case secured directly to the outer end ofthe retaining assembly, a diaphragm Within the support having the valvestem secured thereto, said retaining assembly including a tubular bodyand said valve stem having a pair of spaced recesses thereon which arelocated within the bore of the .body nearer the upper and lower endsthereof, a collar adapted to be secured to one or the other of therecesses to dispose said collar on ASBURY S. PARKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,074,379 Pasinan Sept. 30, 1913 1,135,579 Hansen Apr. 13,1915 2,070,661 Hughes Feb. 16, 1937

